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The Associated Press reported yesterday that between 2002 and 2007 the CIA investigated the use of benzos, in particular, midazolam (Versed), in the interrogation of terror suspects. In a recently declassified report provided to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), details of this drug research program were revealed.
Versed was considered possibly worth a trial if unequivocal legal sanction first were obtained. There were at least two legal obstacles: a prohibition against medical experimentation on prisoners and a ban on interrogational use of ‘mind-altering drugs’ or those which ‘profoundly altered the senses.’ — Declassified Government Report
The CIA ultimately decided not to ask the Justice Department to approve the program and had no official comment on the report’s release. The program informally called “Project Medication” was shelved and according to the report, would not be reactivated.
In 2017, after two years of legal battles by the ACLU, a New York federal judge ordered the CIA to release the report. Still, portions of the report have remained classified and the ACLU continues to litigate for the release of the entire report.
Please read the AP article by Deb Riechmann for the complete story: https://apnews.com/e4bc055b4fee4e0d9f47ab14adc2c173
by D E Foster
References
Bowden, John. “CIA considered use of anti-anxiety drug in terror suspect interrogations: report.” The Hill. November 13, 2018. Accessed November 14, 2018. https://thehill.com/policy/defense/416485-cia-considered-potential-truth-serum-for-terror-suspects
Riechmann, Deb. “CIA considered potential truth serum for terror suspects.” Associated Press. November 13, 2018. Accessed November 14, 2018. https://apnews.com/e4bc055b4fee4e0d9f47ab14adc2c173